THE LOVELY BONES Author: Alice Sebold
by Corie Hahn
Essay #1
Violence
In The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, the story begins with Susie telling the audience how she had been raped and murdered by her next door neighbor, Mr.Harvey. Chapter one introduces how she had been treated with violence and how she is only able to look through the lens from heaven instead of living on earth. The startling beginning exemplifies violence at best through the scope of Chapter 11 in How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster. “I wasn’t killed by Mr.Botte, by the way. Don’t think every person you’re going to meet in here is suspect. That’s the problem. You never know.” (Sebold, Chapter 1) helps show how violence is never certain.
As said in chapter 11, Susie’s murder case helps to bring out the plot and develop characters. However, even throughout the plot, the suspects change and a sense of uncertainty still remains throughout the story. This planned murder by Sebold shows how we get to have a better sense of who she is. The murder gives out clues to what actually happened and thus, leaving out the straight forwardness. As Susie mentioned in the quote, the audience may never really know what happened behind the scenes, and instead leave it up to themselves to perceive what occurred throughout the violent scenes.
The uncertainty gives a chance for the readers to get in better touch with the characters and plot. Violence is never certain and especially throughout a novel, it will be explicitly pointed out what obviously happened at the scene of crime. The ambiguity of chapter 1 displays an essential part of a novel because the audience can interpret how the story is going to turn out.
Essay #2
The Rise
In The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, chapter twenty-two shows how death and rebirth can correlate well together to push forward the plot. In this section, Susie finally expresses her love for Ray and tells him that throughout all this time, she had been watching over him. Once the truth is revealed, however, spirits come into the room and it is time for Susie’s departure back to heaven. “I remembered once, with my parents and Lindsey and Buckley, riding backward on a train into a dark tunnel. That was how it felt to leave Earth the second time. The destination somehow inevitable, the sights seen in passing so many times. But this time I was accompanied, not tripped away, and I knew we were taking a long trip to a place far away.” (Sebold, Chapter 22) shows how through the scope of Chapter 18 of Foster’s book, there is a deep correlation between death and rebirth.
With only the ability to see down to earth, Susie was greatly frustrated and when she got what she wanted out of Ray, it was time for her rebirth and go back to heaven, accepting the reality that she must be gone from earth. With this restoration of acceptance, Susie is able to live a much more peaceful life. There are always going to be conflicts throughout every novel. Readers often anticipate what’s going to happen to the troubled characters. With this knowledge, it can be inferred that in Sebold’s novel, Susie indeed finds her way and when she lets love in, her soul is released and all is well. This anticipation of waiting if the character is going to get back up on his or her feet is essential in this section.
Essay #3
Don’t judge a book by its cover
In chapter fifteen in The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, we learn about Mr.Harvey’s childhood. He was first introduced in the novel when he murdered and raped Susie. We learn about how his mother could provide him love even though all he needed was affection. Since then, he has had this grudge against children and women. In the scope of chapter three in Foster’s book, it can be inferred that not all criminals are monsters. There is always a reasoning to why that character developed into what he or she is in the story.
For it to be impacting to others, the novel should express the reasons and prolonging clues to why the character committed the crime in the first place. As time usually progresses in the novel, we learn more about his childhood and thus, giving a better understanding for the readers. “He had had a moment of clarity about how life should be lived: not as a child or as a woman. They were the two words things to be.” (Sebold, Chapter 15) shows how he was greatly affected by the emotional abuse from his mother. This section exemplifies in chapter three in Foster’s book because a bad character, just like in real life, have layers and they have reasonings for what they did even if its not acceptable in society.
Essay #4
Symbolism
Chapter seventeen in the novel, The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold shows a significant change in one of the characters. When Susie’s father holds the snow globe, he has a different approach to it. Before, he assured Susie that the penguin inside the snow globe would never disappear. This showed that Susie’s father lived in a perfect world, an example of symbolism. “In his den, my father reached out to hold the snow globe in his hand. The cold glass against his fingers comforted him, and he shook it to watch the penguin disappear and then slowly be uncovered by the gently falling show.” (Sebold, Chapter 17) shows how much he had changed from his previous thoughts about the snow globe. This symbolizes how he had been living in an idealistic type of world, but is changing into a realistic way of thinking.
Through the scope of chapter 12 in Foster’s book, the snow globe represents a significance because we can see how much the father has changed since the murder of Susie. Using symbolism in this section was key to understand because the readers could get a better understanding of what it actually meant and is trying to symbolize. Usually, when presented earlier in the book, would have a significant impact on the particular character.
Essay #5
For A Reason
In chapter two in The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold foreshadows a little bit of what is going to happen in the future. For example, after Susie’s murder, their family’s reaction is shock and denial. They keep having this hope that nothing is ever certain which continues to play throughout the story. It also shows how innocence and naivety can be a valuable part to keep the family together. However, it also shows the downsides. In chapter two, Susie’s little brother Buckley draws a picture of a blue line that is away from the ground. This shows the issue of a feeling of abandonment, being lost, and a disappearance, all of which is relevant to the novel.
“Hours before I died, my mother hung on the refrigerator for a picture that Buckley had drawn. In the drawing a thick blue line separated the air and ground. In the days that followed I watched my family walk back and forth past that drawing and I became convinced that that thick blue line was a real place-- an In-between, where heaven’s horizon met Earth's. I wanted to go there into the cornflower blue of Crayola, the royal, the turquoise, the sky.” (Sebold, Chapter 2) shows how Susie desperately wants to get back in touch with earth. This proves that this will further explain the plot throughout the story. Through the scope of chapter twenty-two in Foster’s novel, the section represents an example of how if you want the audience to know something important or what is going to happen, you should introduce it early. That way, the plot can further move forward but at the same time, a sense of ambiguity exists.
Comment #1
Hey Soobin!
I read your essay on Violence, and even though I never read the book, I could get a pretty good grasp of it reading the rest of your essays. When I read your essay about violence, it grabbed my attention because out of all the chapters from the novel, How to read literature like a professor, I read about violence and chose to do it on my essay. First off, I like how you still agreed to Foster and yet interpreted so that it would fit with your book, I thought that it was a smart choice. Also, this is something that you would have figured out after reading and analyzing several times, so your effort really shows. Overall, your essay was great. The only constructive criticism I would give is that if you would have flowed your paragraphs better, (maybe using some transitional phrases? or words?) it would have been better. However, like I said before, all in all, your essay was well thought out and I can definitely tell that you took your time on it. It was interesting yet concise to read so it made the readers read your essay much clearer. Good job!
-Corie Hahn
Comment #2 Hey Sarah!
I chose to read your essay about Communion because it caught my eye the most out of your five essays. I like your point on how the author brings people together, even in the darker times, and I also like how you made it relevant to How to read literature like a professor well. You even concluded a definition in your essay, so that was helpful. One minor advice I might give you is that maybe you could make the essay flow better? Other than that, it was pretty clear on what you were trying to get your point across through your essay. Good job!
Author: Alice Sebold
by Corie Hahn
Essay #1
Violence
In The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, the story begins with Susie telling the audience how she had been raped and murdered by her next door neighbor, Mr.Harvey. Chapter one introduces how she had been treated with violence and how she is only able to look through the lens from heaven instead of living on earth. The startling beginning exemplifies violence at best through the scope of Chapter 11 in How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster. “I wasn’t killed by Mr.Botte, by the way. Don’t think every person you’re going to meet in here is suspect. That’s the problem. You never know.” (Sebold, Chapter 1) helps show how violence is never certain.
As said in chapter 11, Susie’s murder case helps to bring out the plot and develop characters. However, even throughout the plot, the suspects change and a sense of uncertainty still remains throughout the story. This planned murder by Sebold shows how we get to have a better sense of who she is. The murder gives out clues to what actually happened and thus, leaving out the straight forwardness. As Susie mentioned in the quote, the audience may never really know what happened behind the scenes, and instead leave it up to themselves to perceive what occurred throughout the violent scenes.
The uncertainty gives a chance for the readers to get in better touch with the characters and plot. Violence is never certain and especially throughout a novel, it will be explicitly pointed out what obviously happened at the scene of crime. The ambiguity of chapter 1 displays an essential part of a novel because the audience can interpret how the story is going to turn out.
Essay #2
The Rise
In The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, chapter twenty-two shows how death and rebirth can correlate well together to push forward the plot. In this section, Susie finally expresses her love for Ray and tells him that throughout all this time, she had been watching over him. Once the truth is revealed, however, spirits come into the room and it is time for Susie’s departure back to heaven. “I remembered once, with my parents and Lindsey and Buckley, riding backward on a train into a dark tunnel. That was how it felt to leave Earth the second time. The destination somehow inevitable, the sights seen in passing so many times. But this time I was accompanied, not tripped away, and I knew we were taking a long trip to a place far away.” (Sebold, Chapter 22) shows how through the scope of Chapter 18 of Foster’s book, there is a deep correlation between death and rebirth.
With only the ability to see down to earth, Susie was greatly frustrated and when she got what she wanted out of Ray, it was time for her rebirth and go back to heaven, accepting the reality that she must be gone from earth. With this restoration of acceptance, Susie is able to live a much more peaceful life. There are always going to be conflicts throughout every novel. Readers often anticipate what’s going to happen to the troubled characters. With this knowledge, it can be inferred that in Sebold’s novel, Susie indeed finds her way and when she lets love in, her soul is released and all is well. This anticipation of waiting if the character is going to get back up on his or her feet is essential in this section.
Essay #3
Don’t judge a book by its cover
In chapter fifteen in The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, we learn about Mr.Harvey’s childhood. He was first introduced in the novel when he murdered and raped Susie. We learn about how his mother could provide him love even though all he needed was affection. Since then, he has had this grudge against children and women. In the scope of chapter three in Foster’s book, it can be inferred that not all criminals are monsters. There is always a reasoning to why that character developed into what he or she is in the story.
For it to be impacting to others, the novel should express the reasons and prolonging clues to why the character committed the crime in the first place. As time usually progresses in the novel, we learn more about his childhood and thus, giving a better understanding for the readers. “He had had a moment of clarity about how life should be lived: not as a child or as a woman. They were the two words things to be.” (Sebold, Chapter 15) shows how he was greatly affected by the emotional abuse from his mother. This section exemplifies in chapter three in Foster’s book because a bad character, just like in real life, have layers and they have reasonings for what they did even if its not acceptable in society.
Essay #4
Symbolism
Chapter seventeen in the novel, The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold shows a significant change in one of the characters. When Susie’s father holds the snow globe, he has a different approach to it. Before, he assured Susie that the penguin inside the snow globe would never disappear. This showed that Susie’s father lived in a perfect world, an example of symbolism. “In his den, my father reached out to hold the snow globe in his hand. The cold glass against his fingers comforted him, and he shook it to watch the penguin disappear and then slowly be uncovered by the gently falling show.” (Sebold, Chapter 17) shows how much he had changed from his previous thoughts about the snow globe. This symbolizes how he had been living in an idealistic type of world, but is changing into a realistic way of thinking.
Through the scope of chapter 12 in Foster’s book, the snow globe represents a significance because we can see how much the father has changed since the murder of Susie. Using symbolism in this section was key to understand because the readers could get a better understanding of what it actually meant and is trying to symbolize. Usually, when presented earlier in the book, would have a significant impact on the particular character.
Essay #5
For A Reason
In chapter two in The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold foreshadows a little bit of what is going to happen in the future. For example, after Susie’s murder, their family’s reaction is shock and denial. They keep having this hope that nothing is ever certain which continues to play throughout the story. It also shows how innocence and naivety can be a valuable part to keep the family together. However, it also shows the downsides. In chapter two, Susie’s little brother Buckley draws a picture of a blue line that is away from the ground. This shows the issue of a feeling of abandonment, being lost, and a disappearance, all of which is relevant to the novel.
“Hours before I died, my mother hung on the refrigerator for a picture that Buckley had drawn. In the drawing a thick blue line separated the air and ground. In the days that followed I watched my family walk back and forth past that drawing and I became convinced that that thick blue line was a real place-- an In-between, where heaven’s horizon met Earth's. I wanted to go there into the cornflower blue of Crayola, the royal, the turquoise, the sky.” (Sebold, Chapter 2) shows how Susie desperately wants to get back in touch with earth. This proves that this will further explain the plot throughout the story. Through the scope of chapter twenty-two in Foster’s novel, the section represents an example of how if you want the audience to know something important or what is going to happen, you should introduce it early. That way, the plot can further move forward but at the same time, a sense of ambiguity exists.
Comment #1
Hey Soobin!
I read your essay on Violence, and even though I never read the book, I could get a pretty good grasp of it reading the rest of your essays. When I read your essay about violence, it grabbed my attention because out of all the chapters from the novel, How to read literature like a professor, I read about violence and chose to do it on my essay. First off, I like how you still agreed to Foster and yet interpreted so that it would fit with your book, I thought that it was a smart choice. Also, this is something that you would have figured out after reading and analyzing several times, so your effort really shows. Overall, your essay was great. The only constructive criticism I would give is that if you would have flowed your paragraphs better, (maybe using some transitional phrases? or words?) it would have been better. However, like I said before, all in all, your essay was well thought out and I can definitely tell that you took your time on it. It was interesting yet concise to read so it made the readers read your essay much clearer. Good job!
-Corie Hahn
Comment #2
Hey Sarah!
I chose to read your essay about Communion because it caught my eye the most out of your five essays. I like your point on how the author brings people together, even in the darker times, and I also like how you made it relevant to How to read literature like a professor well. You even concluded a definition in your essay, so that was helpful. One minor advice I might give you is that maybe you could make the essay flow better? Other than that, it was pretty clear on what you were trying to get your point across through your essay. Good job!
-Corie Hahn